Here is a picture that Jojo took in Pennsylvania at work. I do like it. bird migration is going on down on the waterfront, A group of middle school boys came by trick or treating and I gave them candy labeled "creepy candy for creepy kids" One of the candies looked like a hot dog but instead of a hot dog it was a bloody finger. they seemed to like it. I am not sure girls will like it but then again there are no girls in this neighborhood.

At last evening's occupy Monterey general assembly I was mesmerized by the college kid leading the group who was wearing vampire make up, a huge wound in his neck and blood dripping down his face.

I knew he was going to a party for Halloween and yet it seemed ominous that he was covered in blood. On Friday 11 people were arrested at a protest in Carmel.

I was going home and locking my front door.

early morning. I am getting ready for the half day sitting at St James. sun is just coming up. Heater is on to dispel the cold night air. I've made the tea, packed up the grapes and cookies and soon I will be out the door. I never know who is going to show up. I remind myself that it is fine, it is all fine.

The occupy Monterey encampment starts on Nov. 4. I totally support the program and yet I am not going to camp out. I am too old and I just live several blocks away but I will participate.

I am reading and enjoying Haruki Murakami book AFTER DARK. He is such a good writer.

My neighbor who has been building the tree house outside my kitchen window now has been starting fires in his back yard, I had a long talk with the assistant fire chief and he has visited this neighbor. Next time we see a fire we will call the fire department. he could burn down the whole neighborhood. I hope this all calms down

I returned the extra 300 stamps that the clerk at the post office accidentally gave me last month. I had paid for 400 stamps but at home I realized I had 700 stamps. they were not so pleased to take them back.

We are on a Dr. Who kick. The 10 year old was over in the late afternoon and we soon settled down for another episode of Dr. Who. I love seeing these current episodes with the kids.

the day never warmed up.

I've started reading Tom Parrotta"s THE LEFTOVERS and am immediately captivated by it. Will let you know if it continues to be good.

Warm day. Went to Custom House plaza and listened to the free music this afternoon. Sitting in the shade with the chair I keep in my car. this is October in Monterey. Hundreds of people walking around.

I did go to the second general assembly of our local Occupy Monterey group. we met at Colton Hall in the late afternoon. About 100 people. I am attending partly out of curiosity and partly because we need some change in our culture to bring about economic justice. I don't know what to make of it. I am impressed with the young people who are leading this group. I will keep attending until I don't.

My neighbor continues to hammer and lift boards up to the top of ht tree, his tree house. I see him form my kitchen window and am no longer so upset He is becoing part of the landscape. I didn't think I would adjust but there it is, I adjust even if I don't want to.

The city never responded as to whether he has a right to build this new structure.

At 7:13 am this morning I saw a lock of crows fly by my window. Yea, these are the crows coming from their roost to their assigned neighborhoods. Our neighborhood crows landed safely. Usually I don't catch the moment of arrival but today I looked up form the newspaper and saw them. I wonder if I will see them tomorrow.

The rain water seeped through the gaps in the kitchen ceiling. The roofing company said they did not anticipate rain. Well neither did I. today they put the roof covering on and sealed it with tar and gravel. Just a little bit more to do tomorrow.

I have always advised people to walk lightly on the roof because I thought it was fragile, but these roofers are bouncing around with wheelbarrows and steaming pots of tar. The house shakes and roars and no one has put a foot through the roof. It must be stronger then I think.

fled the house in the afternoon to escape the boiling tar. Roofers were busy moping the tar on the new roof. I wonder how long the smell will stay.

The kids and I watched another episode of Dr. who, their new favorite TV show. I like it too . It is perfect for the preteen set.

The eleven year old boy and I visited the wharf this afternoon. The bay was tinted red, the red tide is here. We saw line of pelican fling low near the wharf. Also lots of pelicans perched on roofs and railing. Visitors were busy taking pictures. One solitary black bird sat near us. Fog hovered near the tops of the hills waitig for the signal to descend and engulf us. We ate some candy. We were very happy.

I am just beginning a new sewing project which involves lots of measurements and cutting and then sewing. I have been reluctant to start but this afternoon I cut out the first piece. I am on my way. Just baby steps one at a time.

Went to Occupy Monterey demonstration this afternoon at Colton hall downtown Monterey. Lots of familiar faces and also lots of young people. Several hundred people. It was encouraging to be with this committed group. The older peace folks were reminding the younger people to not step on the flowers. The younger folks want to change the way our financial institutions work in our culture. There was a disconnect between the generations but it all worked out.

Scott set up the mouse trap in the kitchen. I haven't seen the mouse but he has.

Went to the movies in the late afternoon, Saw Ides of March, a political story that was quite intense and good.

We are still having warm weather, no fog in sight. My neighbor has slowed down on his tree platform construction. I wonder what is going on.

We are trying to add a paypal button on the zen center's web page. Do you know how complicated this is. Many decisions and codes need to be made. And then still it isn't working. We want to allow impulse donations . Does that really happen. I guess we will find out once our paypal button works.

On the road to Santa Cruz in the early afternoon. The fields were alive with harvesting. Huge lettuce machine and people and in the strawberry fields crews of workers bent over to pick the strawberries. I know it is hard work but visually it was b3autiful. Patches of new grasses along the sides of the roan.

Coming home at 5, intense rush hour traffic, bumper to bumper on this two lane road connecting Monterey to Santa Cruz.

I talked to my son today about the neighbor who is building the high platform outside my kitchen window. He reminded me that you can't win neighbor fights. He kept saying you can't win and I didn't want to hear him. He is probably right. I will just monitor this construction now.

Warm showers this evening. doors open to cool off the house.

Went to lunch to a friend's new residence in Pebble Beach. She sent me directions to the house. They are living in an apartment over a garage on a large estate. I drove around these fancy huge homes and could not find it. I eventually found it by noticing another friend's car parked in the front. The friend said she was sorry she gave me the wrong address. but I was grumpy all through the lunch. She said that she gets numbers mixed up all the time.

My neighbor's middle aged son in the house behind me is creating something in the oak tree by the fence line. He placed a very tall ladder next to the tree and has been dragging boards up and placing them in the branches as if he was making a tree house. No this structure is at least 40 feet above the ground towering over my yard and looking into my kitchen. He started at 4am last night.

Today I head a lot of hammering and now by the light of the almost full moon he is dragging things up the ladder.

It not only feels odd but a bit creepy.

Went to Staples in Seaside this morning. Getting out of the car I heard lots of birds chirping so I looked up at the roof and the overhand and all I could see were clusters of small metal spikes used to discourage the birds from perching.

Oh poor sparrows I thought and then I saw that the birds had some how bypassed the spikes and had found a way to take over the roof.

I am definitely rooting for the the birds.

I went to Turtle Bay for a late lunch today and they were out of guacamole. What? I said. but they were still out so I had to have my chips with salsa and a bowl of soup. but I am not going to stop going there because I do love their food.

I bring in the Friday's New York times and slowly read the paper and eat my lunch.

Some nights I sleep well and other nights I don't. I am trying to figure out which of my activities effects my sleep. Naps, snacks, walks, computer use. they all play a part. I wish I had the key to this.

The oak trees are sprouting leaves with all this rain. the oak moths seem undeterred in the rain. Maybe they are wearing tiny ran coats.

Had lunch at Rocky Point Inn down the coast.
Sparkling sunny day. Sat outside overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the food is not good, mediocre as if they just take out the food from a freezer and stick it in a micro wave and it is very expensive and the view is gorgeous.

I wish they would hire a good cook.

The rain stopped just in time and we were able to have our class at Point Lobos from 9:30 to noon. there were eleven of us at bird rock writing and walking and reading to each other.

During the morning a swarm of termites took to the air form the damp ground. this is part of their annual activity. by the end of the day they wll have dropped their wings and gone back to eating wood. It was a magical day.

So the rain has started and I am sitting here hoping that it doesn't rain tomorrow morning when we have our outside writing class at Pt Lobos.

The weather reports says the rain will stop by morning. I hope. I do have an alternative place to meet if it is raining.

I want to go to Point Lobos tomorrow.

balmy day. Lots of moths fluttering around , also crickets in the early evening. The weather report says rain tomorrow, hard to believe. Spent morning and early afternoon in class and meeting. felt I was let out of school when the front door opened and I could go outside. I want to spend more time outside.

Went to see the movie HIGHER GROUND. It was a story about an evangelical community. I found it so interesting and well done.

at the same time I am reading a book called IN THE LAND OF BELIEVERS by Gina Welch.

I am interested in what people find helpful in these religions and what doesn't work.